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How a yacht works: sailboat physics and design
Topic Site Pages How aerofoils work Where lift comes from Engineering formula for lift Momentum theory of lift Lifting line theory of lift Circulation theory of lift Circulation, Planform, Bubbles 2D flow simulation (AMYA MY #212) How fins and sails work Aspect ratio, Wash, Planform & Vortices, Boundary layer, Reynolds number, Sheeting, Twist, Slot Downwash Sail section lift Slot Effect Wind tunnel (2) Sheeting angles Boundary layer (AMYA MY #185) How a yacht works Points of sailing, Downwind sailing and hull speed, Sailing on the wind, Lift & drag, Apparent wind Apparent Wind Wind Gradient Twist due to wind gradient Big boat instrumentation Wind tunnel Drive vs heel Wind tunnel Goosewinged vs same gybe The course theorem, pointing, and drag angles Lift to drag (AMYA MY #178) Velocity made good (AMYA MY #180) VMG & pointing (AMYA MY #181) Appendage design Fin & rudder size, Fin & rudder planforms, Fin sections, Rudder sections, Rudder balance Bulb size & shape Bulb cant Marko's bulb calculator Foil planforms Fin area Fin Position Foil Sections and forces Oval Bulb Wetted surface area (AMYA MY #183) IOM bulb drag (AMYA MY #184) Hull design Froude number, Surface friction, Wave drag, Hull lines Hull design with arcs Metacentric moments Boundary layer Flow around a hull Flow around a hull 2 Permitted roughness Turbulators Sails and rigging design Shrouds, Jumpers, Stays, Spreaders, Mast, Sail-mast interaction Jibstay sag, Windage, Gooseneck geometry, Topping lift, Sail camber Gap between jib foot and deck Sail shape Sail draft 2D Entry & Exit Angles Gap between sail and mast Sail Twist Twist & downwash Twist measurement Twist measurement (part 2) Wind tunnel (3) Twist Jib foot gap to deck The boat as a whole Balance, Stability, Environment, Trade-offs, Class rule effects Balance due to hull shape Rig tune and snap weather helm Tuning weather helm Simple VPP Heel apparatus for "A" Stiffness (AMYA MY #173) Canoe body yaw (AMYA MY #176) Balance, part I (AMYA MY #187) Balance, part II (AMYA MY #188) ©2025 Lester G.
TopicSite Pages How aerofoils work Where lift comes from Engineering formula for liftMomentum theory of liftLifting line theory of liftCirculation theory of liftCirculation, Planform, Bubbles 2D flow simulation (AMYA MY #212) How fins and sails work Aspect ratio, Wash, Planform & Vortices, Boundary layer, Reynolds number, Sheeting, Twist, Slot DownwashSail section liftSlot EffectWind tunnel (2) Sheeting angles Boundary layer (AMYA MY #185) How a yacht works Points of sailing, Downwind sailing and hull speed, Sailing on the wind, Lift & drag, Apparent wind Apparent WindWind GradientTwist due to wind gradientBig boat instrumentationWind tunnel Drive vs heelWind tunnel Goosewinged vs same gybeThe course theorem, pointing, and drag angles Lift to drag (AMYA MY #178)Velocity made good (AMYA MY #180) VMG & pointing (AMYA MY #181) Appendage design Fin & rudder size, Fin & rudder planforms, Fin sections, Rudder sections, Rudder balance Bulb size & shapeBulb cantMarko's bulb calculatorFoil planformsFin areaFin PositionFoil Sections and forcesOval Bulb Wetted surface area (AMYA MY #183) IOM bulb drag (AMYA MY #184) Hull design Froude number, Surface friction, Wave drag, Hull lines Hull design with arcsMetacentric momentsBoundary layerFlow around a hullFlow around a hull 2Permitted roughnessTurbulators Sails and rigging design Shrouds, Jumpers, Stays, Spreaders, Mast, Sail-mast interaction Jibstay sag, Windage, Gooseneck geometry, Topping lift, Sail camber Gap between jib foot and deck Sail shapeSail draft2D Entry & Exit AnglesGap between sail and mastSail TwistTwist & downwashTwist measurementTwist measurement (part 2)Wind tunnel (3) TwistJib foot gap to deck The boat as a whole Balance, Stability, Environment, Trade-offs, Class rule effects Balance due to hull shapeRig tune and snap weather helmTuning weather helmSimple VPPHeel apparatus for "A"Stiffness (AMYA MY #173) Canoe body yaw (AMYA MY #176) Balance, part I (AMYA MY #187) Balance, part II (AMYA MY #188)
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